Photographer's Note

Many religious groups, including Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, feed pigeons for religious reasons. The pigeon is revered in Nepal with huge flocks numbering many thousands being fed daily at Hindu temples in towns and city centres throughout the country. By feeding the pigeons they believe that when they are reincarnated they will never go hungry if they have fed pigeons in their previous life. Other religious groups in Nepal and India also believe that when a person dies his or her soul assumes the form of a bird normally a pigeon and therefore by feeding pigeons and other birds they are caring for the souls of their departed ancestors.

Pigeons survive easily in our hectic cities and also considered by many people to have valuable enrichment to the town centres. Feeding pigeons bring pleasure to so many people, an important spare-time activity to some who enjoy animals and are looking for a form of relaxation. But unfortunately, enormous food supplies together with the absence of enemies encourage large populations of pigeons which in many respects can also lead to health problems. But interestingly, pigeon is one of the first animals that man domesticated and it holds a special place in man’s affections. Wherever pigeons have been bred, they have always been important for their symbolic expression of human and divine features.

This was taken near a temple on a slight cloudy morning in hectic Thamel, Kathmandu city centre. Watching a more in-depth moment as the flock being fed passionately by the woman with deep commitment, probably the closest, intimate interaction and affection between them, is a great pleasure indeed. Giving due respect to local culture by keeping an appropriate distance and behave in a respectful manner goes a long way. She keeps the significant culture alive, a glimpse into a world where this tradition is still adhered to by most of the population in their day to day life.

I recognize the place. I tried similar shots but at the end noone were good.
Good wide angle composition putting in evidence the sea of birds and perfect you got the lady in red placed the corner to fix the look and balance the colors inside the overall grey-blu colors.

Hello Abmdsudi,
marvelous street scene.Just the countless pigeons and the woman in red standing out so lovely against the surrounding.Excellently composed and framed scene.Such composition are the best to show the real character of a city.But also your note deserve appreciation.Very interesting and informative.Brilliant work!
Best regards
Krzysztof

Ciao Abmdsudi ,
a scene really moved with a lot of details, the slight blurring due to the low time does not disturb and earns the greatest depth, the framing is perfect and nice natural colors, the pigeons in Rome are not well regarded for their acid poop that damages monuments and cars...for me is not problem...
warm regards,
Valter

Hello Abmdsudi - Interesting, in many cities pigeons have the status of vermin and are thought of as carriers of disease and depositors of filth. Here you show us another way of thinking. I love the dark tones of this shot. The contrast provided by the woman's clothing is key to the success of your photograph. It holds the eye long enough for the dynamic movement of the birds to be appreciated. Super scene.

Are you a pigeon fancier? I am not and massed together like this remind me of Hitchcock's 'Birds'. Warm regards rosemary

Hello Abmdsudi,
The closeness to the swarm of pigeons, most of them covering the ground and some flying, makes me feel I am almost there personally. Considering that a lot of people compare pigeons to flying rats, it is not an entirely pleasant feeling. But your photo has a very strong impact and of course the woman in red distracts a lot from the birds. Although being alone she is clearly the focus of the composition. It's also interesting to notice the respectful distance kept by the pigeons to the dog. The fine Nepalese architecture is another bonus to the photo.
Kind regards,
Gert

Hello Abmdsudi,
this is a great composition, a rich and captivating picture. It's very interesting and useful to study it's point of view, construction and perspective. I like very much the space you gave to the huge group of pigeons which have been captured at every possible angle. Their rich grey hues and vibrant movement are fascinating. The woman in red is marvellously placed at the upper left corner offering a superb point of reference and chromatic contrast. The background enhances the sense of depth and provides great cultural context. Lighting is very apt and the impression this scene gives us is very vivid. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great day,
Ourania

Greetings.
Very interesting and good text ...
A good time recording, sharpness and contrast, beautiful color.
Good composition, my congratulations for the captured moment.
Beautiful birds.
All the best.
Paja.

Hi Abmdsudi,
I guess this is another from the hip shot (thanks for your note on that), and what a result. The birds are such a huge flock, and something I never seen. The womans bright colorful clothing is a great contrast to the greys.

Again, I must say thank you for todays learning, as I never knew that about pigeons. Here in Ireland, they are considered "rats with wings" by so many, and are generally disliked by all and sundry. I however, have always admired their bravity and wonderful colours, so I am glad to know that there is such a noble place in some societies for these beautiful creatures.
All the best
Noel

You're capturing well this daily life by a good composition and excellent tone/clarity, so it's interesting to see that many pigeons are gathering in front of temple's precincts. It will gather, since it knows that those who give food will come. Giving food tends to be forbidden although a pigeon is well seen in a park or a temple even in Japan.
Have a nice day,

Really lively shot, Abmdsudi - the maelstrom of pigeons is a bit of an unsettling sight, but comined with the other elements here and the perfect exposure it has a nice effect. The woman in red stands out brilliantly, and I do enjoy how the pigeons are giving that dog a nice wide berth!

Another theme and another appraoch but still remains top quality. Greatest composition and perfectly astonishing framework as usual! The allocation of two floatings are so well considered. The best choice of low angle, I guess you palce your camera on the ground?Thank you for your sharing with finest work and have a good Friday!

Hello Abmdsudi,
I like the fine moment you captured here. The grey looking birds and background gives the woman in red a special attitude in the image. Intresting effect.
Have a nice weekend,
Regards,
maria

Feeding the pigeons is a passion. The depth and saturation of the colours - the blue, black and grey of the fluttering pigeons or the scarlet/red of the clothes worn by the lady, dominate the photograph by their solidity and impression.
Though it is a scene of daily life in many parts of the Indian sub-continent, the street and the buildings surrounding the pigeons and the lady are rendered inconsequential in this photograph. The viewer sees the carpet of pigeons and the bright red dress of the lady.
Its a very interesting and observant capture.
Thanks for sharing.

Hello Abmdsudi
Nice article about pigeons, just as you did not write that there are people who keep birds in cages and use them for various competitions, but there are people who feed pigeons because they have no other food.
Great photos, I said many times that I like darker tones.
Perfect composition and depth of field.
Kind regards
Saša

Always a pleasure to discover your pictures!
A low POV to be close to the pigeons (you were crouching), and a red hue so eye catching for the lady feeding them. The low speed allows you to have atb the same time blurred and sharp birds. The only small problem IMHO is the tilt of the camera to get the woman vertical.
Cheers
CLODO

Hello Abmdsudi
And in many western cities pigeons are regarded as flying rats. How different we look at things.
Superb picture, your low POV, concentrating on the birds is well chosen, the colors are gorgeous and the red dress of the woman adds a nice contrast to the overwhelming blues here.
have a great weekend
Daniel

one of these few places in the world,hardly changed over the years..Kathmandu is like that,and this is a very good expression of it Absu.very interesting because of your rather low position,and the lady in red is very welcome!

hi abmdudi,
this is a fantastic composition. your point of view so low down is excellent has resulted in a very dramatic perspective. the movement you have captured of the birds is superb. the figure in the red dress really stands out and is a great focal point.
have a great week,
brian

Hi Abmdsudi
again, another winner of a photo.
what really surprises me most about the scene is how blue the pigeons turned out.
we don't really associate pigeons as being blue...but there is certainly a strong blue/grey tone in your photo.
the lady couldn't have worn a better suit to contrast the blues!
wonderful photo and note.
cheers
craig

Hello Abmdsudi
Looks like the lady acting as a colourful eye-catcher in this street view had to pay for making so much friends around her!
This sudden life on pavement creates a nice light-and-shadow play in this exotic scenery!
Cheers.
Robert

This lady looks so calm amongst all these pigeons. I'd be screaming: I hate them, they are rats with wings. But here they've made a spectacular photo. The sense of movement, the inundation, the sheer numbers are amazing. This poor lady looks completely beleaguered. Wonderful low POV adds to the sense of immediacy and movement. An excellent and very unique photo, which I can't stop looking at.

Hi Abmdsudi,
very impressive photograph. Low perspective makes a fantastic effect. Great foreground so full of pigeons, and the woman in red traditional clothes makes a very strong point in the composition.
Excellent work!!!
Have a great weekend,
M

Hi Abmdsudi,
a scene very dynamic and full of vitality, because of the pigeons and the woman who feeds them, that you have caught skillfully.
I like the special light and the sense of motion that you have reached by means of a low shutter speed.
It is a splendid work.
Best regards,
Josep

Hello
an impressive simple scenery with all
those pigeons,excellent chosen point
of view showing different scenes
your notes helped me to understand
the whole philosophy of this shot
regards
Costantino